Kukies dismissed the idea that Washington has gained the upper hand in trade talks after announcing the latest tariffs.
“The willingness to negotiate existed long before the tariffs were announced,” he said. “I don’t see that the U.S. has gained any great advantage.”
Kukies also backed the European Commission’s strategy of preparing tough countermeasures if talks fail, while offering to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods if the U.S. reciprocates. “There’s a broad consensus in German politics behind this strategy,” Kukies said.
He also pointed to deteriorating sentiment in the U.S. economy. “All the reactions we’re seeing from U.S. businesses and surveys indicate that the risk of recession is rising,” he said. “And in a downturn, tax revenues tend to shrink — not grow.”